I want to fix some superficial dents in the rails on a pool table.
Most of these are shallow and did not break the surface (they look
like they came from impact with billiard balls). Any thoughts on
using burn in sticks vs drop filling with lacquer? I assume the
finish is some kind of lacquer.
Thanks.
Charles
On Apr 19, 8:10=A0pm, [email protected] wrote:
>
> Steam them out???
Yep - It takes some care and that is why Mike suggested Googling. The
process usually involves putting a damp cloth over the dent and VERY
CAREFULLY applying heat with a hot iron (or similar source). This
forces small amounts of steam into the wood fibers, expanding the
wood. On finished wood, that hasn't been marred, you might have to
introduce a few small needle pricks to allow the seam past the
finish. I have pulled dents mostly out of table tops without filling.
Now - I have said too much. The OP needs to follow the original
suggestion and Google for some YouTube or other direction. If you
screw up you can stain the wood.
RonB
On Apr 19, 9:43=A0pm, [email protected] wrote:
> On Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:35:03 -0700 (PDT), RonB <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >On Apr 19, 8:10=A0pm, [email protected] wrote:
>
> >> Steam them out???
>
> >Yep - It takes some care and that is why Mike suggested Googling. =A0The
> >process usually involves putting a damp cloth over the dent and VERY
> >CAREFULLY applying heat with a hot iron (or similar source). =A0This
> >forces small amounts of steam into the wood fibers, expanding the
> >wood. =A0On finished wood, that hasn't been marred, you might have to
> >introduce a few small needle pricks to allow the seam past the
> >finish. =A0I have pulled dents mostly out of table tops without filling.
>
> >Now - I have said too much. =A0The OP needs to follow the original
> >suggestion and Google for some YouTube or other direction. =A0If you
> >screw up you can stain the wood.
>
> >RonB
>
> =A0I wasn't questioning steaming it out. It was a suggestion - as in
> "have you thought to steam it out?"
Oh. Sorry about that. Mike suggested steaming about two responses
down. I misunderstood.
RonB
[email protected] wrote:
> I want to fix some superficial dents in the rails on a pool table.
> Most of these are shallow and did not break the surface (they look
> like they came from impact with billiard balls). Any thoughts on
> using burn in sticks vs drop filling with lacquer? I assume the
> finish is some kind of lacquer.
>
If they are shallow - as you describe, I would try steaming them up. Do a
google search and you will find a great deal of information on steaming up
dents, with YouTube videos that will do much more than descriptions here can
do.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
On Apr 19, 1:49=A0pm, "Mike Marlow" <[email protected]>
wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> > I want to fix some superficial dents in the rails on a pool table.
> > Most of these are shallow and did not break the surface (they look
> > like they came from impact with billiard balls). =A0Any thoughts on
> > using burn in sticks vs drop filling with lacquer? =A0I assume the
> > finish is some kind of lacquer.
>
> So - why do you assume some kind of lacquer? =A0It may be, but I'm wonder=
ing
> why you arrive at that assumption. =A0If it is, my earlier post could wor=
k
> well for you, as steaming can indeed bring things back. =A0But...
>
> As for "burn in sticks" and/or "drop filling with lacquer" - I would
> recommend against any such ideas. =A0You will always see that repair, or =
they
> will always be weak areas.
>
> It's really hard to say without seeing the damaged areas, but my first
> attempt (based on your description) would be the steam raising that I
> suggested in my previous post.
>
> --
>
> -Mike-
> [email protected]
I have steamed out dents before very successfully on unfinished wood,
but have read that the steam would likely damage a finished surface
and also didn't know if it would effectively penetrate through the
finish anyway. As far as why I assume lacquer, it's because I think
(but am not sure) that the finish seemed to get a little softer with
lacquer thinner in an inconspicous area.
Charles
[email protected] wrote:
> I have steamed out dents before very successfully on unfinished wood,
> but have read that the steam would likely damage a finished surface
> and also didn't know if it would effectively penetrate through the
> finish anyway. As far as why I assume lacquer, it's because I think
> (but am not sure) that the finish seemed to get a little softer with
> lacquer thinner in an inconspicous area.
>
Ok - makes sense. I have steamed small dents out of guitars that were
finished in nitrocelulose lacquer, so I still believe that might be worth
your time to investigate.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
On Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:35:03 -0700 (PDT), RonB <[email protected]>
wrote:
>On Apr 19, 8:10Â pm, [email protected] wrote:
>
>>
>> Steam them out???
>
>Yep - It takes some care and that is why Mike suggested Googling. The
>process usually involves putting a damp cloth over the dent and VERY
>CAREFULLY applying heat with a hot iron (or similar source). This
>forces small amounts of steam into the wood fibers, expanding the
>wood. On finished wood, that hasn't been marred, you might have to
>introduce a few small needle pricks to allow the seam past the
>finish. I have pulled dents mostly out of table tops without filling.
>
>Now - I have said too much. The OP needs to follow the original
>suggestion and Google for some YouTube or other direction. If you
>screw up you can stain the wood.
>
>RonB
I wasn't questioning steaming it out. It was a suggestion - as in
"have you thought to steam it out?"
[email protected] wrote:
> I want to fix some superficial dents in the rails on a pool table.
> Most of these are shallow and did not break the surface (they look
> like they came from impact with billiard balls). Any thoughts on
> using burn in sticks vs drop filling with lacquer? I assume the
> finish is some kind of lacquer.
>
So - why do you assume some kind of lacquer? It may be, but I'm wondering
why you arrive at that assumption. If it is, my earlier post could work
well for you, as steaming can indeed bring things back. But...
As for "burn in sticks" and/or "drop filling with lacquer" - I would
recommend against any such ideas. You will always see that repair, or they
will always be weak areas.
It's really hard to say without seeing the damaged areas, but my first
attempt (based on your description) would be the steam raising that I
suggested in my previous post.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
On 4/19/12 12:14 PM, Mike Marlow wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
>> I want to fix some superficial dents in the rails on a pool table.
>> Most of these are shallow and did not break the surface (they look
>> like they came from impact with billiard balls). Any thoughts on
>> using burn in sticks vs drop filling with lacquer? I assume the
>> finish is some kind of lacquer.
>>
>
> If they are shallow - as you describe, I would try steaming them up. Do a
> google search and you will find a great deal of information on steaming up
> dents, with YouTube videos that will do much more than descriptions here can
> do.
>
Yeah, but our trolls can't go to youtube because their moms still have
dial-up.
--
-MIKE-
"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply
[email protected] wrote:
> I have steamed out dents before very successfully on unfinished wood,
> but have read that the steam would likely damage a finished surface
> and also didn't know if it would effectively penetrate through the
> finish anyway. As far as why I assume lacquer, it's because I think
> (but am not sure) that the finish seemed to get a little softer with
> lacquer thinner in an inconspicous area.
If you aren't sure then either you are exceedingly indecisive/cautious or it
isn't lacquer.
If it is lacquer, it wouldn't just get a bit softer, it would melt...it
would be liquid and sticky.
--
dadiOH
____________________________
dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
On Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:28:58 -0700 (PDT), [email protected] wrote:
>I want to fix some superficial dents in the rails on a pool table.
>Most of these are shallow and did not break the surface (they look
>like they came from impact with billiard balls). Any thoughts on
>using burn in sticks vs drop filling with lacquer? I assume the
>finish is some kind of lacquer.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Charles
Steam them out???